What is Rental Assistance?

                                    HUD Section 8 - Rental Housing Assistance Payment Program

Rental Assistance

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is a rental subsidy program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The program enables low-income eligible individuals/families to afford housing.   Individuals /families are expected to contribute at minimum 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent and utility expenses.

See the adopted Utility Allowances Schedules. 

*Housing rental units are inspected to ensure the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS)before a rental lease is completed and housing assistance payment contracts are signed. 

*Each year income and eligibility are re-evaluated. 

* Housing units are also re-inspected to ensure compliance with HUD’s HQS. 

Four Square Community Action, Inc is currently funded to assist approximately 473 individuals/families in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties.

Landlord Info.

For Landlords:  The housing unit must meet HUD Housing Quality Standards and the rent must be approvable within HUD Fair Market Rate.  If you have a unit to rent under the Section 8 Program, you may call your local housing office to have your unit listed on our list of available units.

OUTREACH OFFICES

CHEROKEE COUNTY,

Murphy, NC -Carolyn Hyde

828-837-7318

Andrews.NC

828-321-4475 Ext. # 233

CLAY COUNTY

Connie Cagle 828-389-6757

SWAIN COUNTY -Jeanie Stephens

828-488-2685

GRAHAM COUNTY- Kendra Parton 828-479-3001

HUD Section 8 Director – Sue Ledford

You may also advertise in the newspaper with the phrase “will accept Section 8”. For more information on HUD Housing Quality Standards please view and/or print the booklet “A Good Place To Live” (link listed below in "For Landlords" Section).

Housing Links FORMAT I.E. 

The following links provide useful information for income limits and other housing resources.

Housing and Urban Development

www.hud.gov 

HUD Choice Voucher Page

www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/about/fact_sheet

Additional Housing Resources

www.benefits.gov/benefit/710

Housing Documents

Section 8 Rental Assistance Applications

The following form must be downloaded if applying for Section 8 rental assistance. 

Section 8 Rental Assistance application package

*This site is not monitored for applications.  If you wish to apply for Section 8 Rental Assistance, please contact your local Community Services/HUD Coordinator staff person and set up a time for an appointment.  To expedite the process, you must either mail or bring you application to the Four-Square Community Action, Inc (FSCA) office for qualification before any services can be offered.  You will NOT be eligible to be put on the waiting list until income eligibility is determined and all supporting documentation has been received by FSCA.

*Note:  You cannot save the data you have entered in the form so you must print it before closing the form.

Portability

Portability in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program refers to the process through which the individual/family can transfer or “port” their rental subsidy when they move to a location outside the jurisdiction of the Public Housing Agency (PHA) that first gave them the voucher when they were selected for the program.

New individuals/families may not be able to port immediately, they may have to live in the jurisdiction of the initial PHA for a year before they can port.

• Initial PHAs – The PHA that first gave the voucher to the individual/family when they were selected for the program.

• Receiving PHAs – The agency that will administer assistance in the area to which the individual/family moves.

For more information on portability, you may contact our local Outreach office or see the resource below:

www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/portability

For Landlords

This is a collection of information that will be useful to landlords.

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Landlord Resources

Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Symposium Toolkit

HOPE (Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Eviction)

A Good Place To Live

www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_11735.PDF